The 8th National Patriotic Emulation Congress opened at the National Convention Centre in Hanoi on December 27 with the participation of 1,500 eminent delegates from across the country.

 The aim is to review the results of the emulation movement in the past five years and discuss ways of improving the quality of patriotic emulation and rewarding to contribute to the successful implementation of the socio-economic development plan for the next  period 2011-2015.

 Present at the opening session were Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu, former President Tran Duc Luong, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung who is also chairman of the Central Council for Emulation and Reward, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Truong Tan Sang and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Huynh Dam.

 The nation’s position further strengthened

 In his speech PM Dung said the congress is the great festival of the national patriotic emulation movements which have been launched over the past five years.

 On June 11, 1948, late President Ho Chi Minh initiated a patriotic emulation movement, calling on all people to respond to the movement. Over the past 62 years, the whole Party and people have launched many similar movements, encouraging all people and soldiers to overcome difficulties and join efforts to bring the Vietnamese revolution to glorious victories.

 In the renewal process, emulation and rewarding has changed in both content and form. The movement is now closely connected with the campaign “Study and Follow President Ho Chi Minh’s moral examples” with a view to bringing into play the integrated strength of the entire people to ensure the steady sustainable development of the nation.

 PM Dung affirmed that the patriotic emulation movements have played an important role in the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation.

Over the past five years, Vietnam has faced a lot of difficulties and challenges, rising from the effects of the global financial downturn, natural disasters, epidemics and acts of sabotage by hostile forces.

Promoting the patriotic emulation tradition initiated by late President Ho Chi Minh and implementing the Politburo’s directive 39 on strengthening the emulation movement, the emulation and rewarding has helped to encourage the entire people to make greater achievements in all fields of economics, culture, social affairs, national defence, security and external relations.

PM Dung said that the results of emulation and rewarding over the past five years have made it possible for the country to weather the global economic crisis, maintain macroeconomic stability, keep the economy in balance, maintain high economic growth rate (6.7 percent in 2010) and improve the people’s living conditions and social welfare. Vietnam’s sovereignty, politic security and social order have been maintained, its position and the national great unity bloc have been strengthened along with the building of the Party and the political system.

Expanding emulation movement across the country

 Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan who is vice chairwoman of the Central Council for Emulation and Reward, said that over the past five years emulation and rewarding has been given due attention by the Party, government agencies and Fatherland Front organisations at all levels to keep pace with the campaign “Study and Follow President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example”.

 It has greatly contributed to stepping up the process of national construction, defence and development.

 Over the past five years, the Party and State have presented:

 -          80,764 anti-American resistance war medals and orders

 -          8,199 anti-French resistance war medals and orders

 -          6,329 Prime Minister’s certificates of merit

 and completed rewarding those actively involved in the two resistance wars.

 

(VOVNEWS)